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Turning the Page….

A few weekends ago we ran out of beer. Nothing new there but this time it is for good. This news may come as a shock to most of you since most breweries aren’t closing down very often, and especially shocking to those of you who really enjoy our beer.

First, I just want to thank everyone who has supported Liftline Brewing from the very beginning. Cheers especially to those who have been getting their growlers filled week in and week out – or more like whenever we were open. It has been a long year and a half getting this up and running. Though it feels more like a decade. During the little break the brewery had for the month of September, I took a big step back and did some serious reassessing of the brewery as it stands now and of its future.

The brewery is at the point in its life where an expansion is required in order to become somewhat profitable. The problem here lies that there are just not enough hours in the day to meet the time requirement of an expansion. I’ve come to the conclusion that I can’t simply commit more time and effort to the brewery while remaining mentally sane and physically healthy.

I have learned more than I ever thought I would in such a short amount of time. Everything from myself as a person, as a business owner, and about brewing beer. Starting a business is something that a lot of people will never get to experience. But business is what has taken the fun out of brewing for me. The passion has taken the backseat. Commercial brewing has little similarities to homebrewing, and I learned that on my very first batch of Liftline beer. The romance died off much sooner than I ever anticipated and brewing became a chore where I couldn’t wait to be done with it. There’s a lot to a brewery than just brewing beer. All of that for one person to take on is fairly overwhelming. I had read and heard that more times than once but I will be the first to admit that I am a bit stubborn. I’m throwing in the towel now rather than waiting until I completely despise making beer.

I honestly have the absolute utmost respect for every brewer and brewery owner out there.

I feel a lot of emotions while writing this statement. I have committed the majority of the past five years of my life to this dream. To have it not be as green of pasture as anticipated is fairly depressing. I had always told myself from the beginning that it would be long hours and exhausting but it didn’t have any meaning until I was able to actually experience it. I finish this short chapter in my life with a sigh of relief and a vast amount of anticipation with what’s next to come. I’m beyond fortunate to have been able to make a dream come true so early on in my life. But for now, it’s back to simpler times of homebrewing in my garage. I don’t want to say goodbye to Vermont’s incredible beer scene just yet. I just need to reevaluate what I want to do within it.

Again, thank you all for being great people and great patrons of Liftline Brewing Company. Maybe I will see all of your faces over a pint glass somewhere again soon.